Door Assay

The Porsche 550 Spyder had a very streamlined body shape built for speed and was designed without door handles on the outside of the door. As it was a low roadster, most drivers either stepped over the door to get in or used the handle on the inside to open it. Climbing into a 550 is not the most graceful process and most drivers had to be contortionists to fit into the small cockpit, so it was easier not to use the doors. Some Spyders were built with pull cables to release the lock, but the majority used the ribbed shape chrome handles found on the early 356s and VW Kombis. The locking mechanism itself was designed and manufactured by Keiper, but was unique to the 550.